Once
In Ten Years
Guidelines on Study Leave
Definition
‘Study
leave’ is period of withdrawal from parish and Diocesan
life for the purpose of reflection, rest and spiritual refreshment.
Eligibility
All stipendiary workers who hold the Bishop’s licence are
eligible for study leave. They should normally have been in ministry
for not less than 10 years, and in post in this diocese for not
less than 3 years. One would not normally be eligible for another
period of study leave for a further 10 years. Study leave will
not normally be granted for those who are within 5 years of retirement.
Number
For pastoral and financial reasons, up to 6 people per annum are
able to take study leave.
Procedure
Contact should be made in the first instance with your Archdeacon,
thereafter with the Bishop and then the CME Officer. In the case
of parish clergy, the support of churchwardens, the PCC, members
of local ministry team and the rural dean is essential.
Duration
Study leave normally lasts for three months. Careful thought needs
to be given about entry into and exit from this time.
Content
There are three strands to the study leave:
• Spiritual refreshment
• Rest
• A Project to assist personal and professional development
The precise relationship between the three will depend on individual
circumstances, but it should be worked out carefully with the
CME Officer, and approved by the Bishop.
Supervisor
A supervisor should be found for the study leave. He / She has
three broad responsibilities:
• To hold the minister to what he / she has agreed to do
during the time
• To provide support
• To encourage reflection on what has been learnt through
the study leave
Pastoral Cover
The Bishop will need to be satisfied that appropriate pastoral
cover will be provided during the study leave. This includes both
Sundays and throughout the week.
Finance
The CME Budget will provide a grant of up to £1000 in response
to an itemised application. No further CME grant will be available
in the year of the study leave.
Report
Following the study leave, a report should be written, detailing
what was done, what has been learnt, and whether anything emerged
that is important for the wider Church. Copies of the report should
be sent to the Bishop, your Archdeacon and the CME Officer.
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